With no significant decisions, as expected, concluded the Euro Working Group (EWG) teleconference about Greece. According to a Eurozone source the discussion between the single currency’s Deputy Finance Ministers lasted less than two hours and the member states’ representatives agreed that the discussions should continue in Athens and Brussels.
“There is still much work to be done at technical level in Athens and Brussels to reach an agreed and comprehensive list of measures” the same source indicated to Greek media.
The Eurozone Deputy Finance Ministers were briefed on the progress the Greek government has made regarding its reforms list. The list is expected to be submitted to Greece’s partners to unlock fresh aid for the debt-ridden country. Athens has been working on the proposed reforms with the three creditor institutions, namely the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“The only purpose of the call was to be updated by the three institutions and the Greek colleagues on where the talks in Athens and Brussels are at,” another unnamed senior Eurozone official told Reuters.
“We have taken note that there has been progress and convergence for the last days but there is still quite some work that needs to be done to come to a successful conclusion of this part of the process which is a comprehensive list of measures that will form the basis -and be a credible perspective- for, ultimately, a successful conclusion of the review, which continues to be our aim,” the official, familiar with the content of the teleconference, explained.
The Eurozone Deputy Finance Ministers teleconference is seen as a preparatory move ahead of Eurogroup meetings that can decide whether to disburse new loans to Greece. The cash-strapped country could be bankrupt by the end of the month in no aid arrives on time.
“We stand ready to fully engage within our mandate as soon as there is an agreed output between the three institutions and the Greek authorities,” the same official concluded, as cited by the Reuters.
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